Bengaluru-Mumbai Express train: The will commence the inaugural run of a new express train between Bengaluru and Mumbai on Sunday, May 17. The new service is expected to further improve rail connectivity for passengers travelling between Bengaluru, the Hubballi-Dharwad region, Belagavi, Pune and Mumbai. The train will be operated and maintained by the South Western Railway (SWR) zone.
In a statement, Dr. Manjunath Kanamadi, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of SWR said: “This new train service is expected to greatly benefit passengers travelling for business, education, tourism and employment purposes between , North Karnataka and the region. The service will also improve rail connectivity to important commercial and cultural centres en route.”
The new Bengaluru-Mumbai-Bengaluru Express will run as train numbers 16553/16554. On Sunday, it will operate as an inaugural one-way special service with train number 06557. It will run between Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal Bengaluru and Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, Mumbai.
The SMVT Bengaluru-Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Express will cover a distance of 1,210 km in 24 hours and 5 minutes. The train will commence regular operations from Bengaluru on May 23, while services from Mumbai will begin from May 24.
The new SMVT Bengaluru-Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Express will halt at 15 stations. These are: Tumakuru, Davangere, SSS Hubballi, Dharwar, Belagavi, Miraj, Sangli, Karad, Satara, Lonand, , Lonavala, Karjat, Kalyan and Thane stations.
The SMVT Bengaluru-Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Express will run as a bi-weekly service. The train will comprise one AC 2-Tier Coach, four AC 3-Tier Coaches, six Sleeper Class Coaches, four General Second Class Coaches, one Second Class Luggage-cum-Brake Van with Divyangjan-friendly compartment, and one Luggage-cum-Generator Car-cum-Brake Van, totalling 17 LHB coaches.
Train No. 16553 SMVT Bengaluru–Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Express will depart from SMVT Bengaluru at 20:35 hrs on every Saturday and Tuesday and reach Lokmanya Tilak Terminus at 20:40 hrs on Sunday and Wednesday respectively.
In the return direction, Train No. 16554 Lokmanya Tilak Terminus–SMVT Bengaluru Express will depart from Lokmanya Tilak Terminus at 23:15 hrs on every Sunday and Wednesday and arrive at SMVT Bengaluru at 22:30 hrs on Monday and Thursday respectively.
However on May 17, the SMVT Bengaluru–Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Inaugural Special will depart from SMVT Bengaluru at 10:00 hrs and reach Lokmanya Tilak Terminus at 10:30 hrs on the next day.
For travel between SMVT Bengaluru and Lokmanya Tilak Terminus on train numbers 16553/16554, the ticket fare has been fixed at Rs 750 for Sleeper Class, Rs 1880 for AC 3 Tier and Rs 2575 for AC 2 Tier.
